Contribution of ONOE’s in Policy Stability through Public Administration and Democratic Dynamics: Federalism vs Centralization

India’s public administration, a dynamic and intricate framework, calls for a new era of policy stability and governance efficiency. The "One Nation, One Election" (ONOE) proposal presents a transformative approach to meet this demand, advocating synchronized elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. This chapter analyzes ONOE from a public administration perspective, focusing on its contributions to policy stability, administrative efficiency, federal governance, and citizen-centric administration. Employing public administration theories such as John Dilulio’s New Public Administration, Woodrow Wilson’s administrative good governance, Robert Denhardt’s New Public Service, Herbert Simon’s decision-making theory, and George Frederickson’s social equity theory, it explores ONOE’s impact on governance structures and policy implications. Drawing on India’s administrative policy reports, OECD governance data, UNDP public administration indices, and Controller and Auditor General (CAG) reports, the chapter examines ONOE’s effects on policy stability, accountability, and national unity. It emphasizes global governance models and South Asian trends, focusing on policymaking, administrative structures, and digital governance. Aligned with seminar themes of "administrative efficiency," "governance continuity," and "promoting national unity," this paper constructs a public administration-centered framework for ONOE, proposing data-driven policy recommendations to strengthen India’s governance and pave the way for a robust administrative future.

India’s democracy, a vibrant tapestry of regional diversity and national unity, thrives on the delicate balance between federalism and centralization. The "One Nation, One Election" (ONOE) proposal offers a transformative framework to recalibrate this balance, advocating synchronized elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. This chapter examines ONOE through a political science lens, focusing on its implications for democratic dynamics and the interplay between federalism and centralization. Employing theories from John Locke, John Stuart Mill, Aristotle, Robert Dahl, and Alfred Stepan, it explores ONOE’s impact on center-state relations, regional autonomy, voter participation, and political stability. Drawing on data from the Election Commission of India, International IDEA democracy indices, World Bank governance metrics, and National Election Study (NES), it analyzes how ONOE can strengthen cooperative federalism while preserving regional identities. By integrating global federal models and South Asian trends, the paper presents a policy framework with federalism-centric recommendations to empower India’s democracy, fostering a governance system that harmonizes diversity with unity.